Before you book an EDT

A same-day trip abroad leaves little room for surprises. Run through these checks before you book — they take ten minutes and can save your day.

1. 01

   Public holidays & closures

   • Check public holidays in the destination country for your date — shops, museums and sights can be closed or run reduced hours.
   • Many museums close one day a week (often Monday), and some cities are very quiet on Sundays.
2. 02

   Time zones

   • Every time on Exdatrips is shown in the local time of each airport. Most of mainland Europe is one hour ahead of the UK; Portugal and Ireland share UK time; Finland, the Baltics, Romania and Greece are two hours ahead.
   • Set your phone to update automatically, and take extra care on clock-change dates (late March and late October).
3. 03

   Airport to city transfer

   • Our transfer times are planning estimates. Check the real timetable for your date — especially the first service after an early landing and the last one before your flight home.
   • Some airports are a long way from the city they’re named after. Check which airport you actually fly into.
4. 04

   Time at the airport

   • Allow for security queues, passport control and walking to the gate. Check your airline’s check-in, bag-drop and gate-closing times.
   • Get back to the airport in good time for the flight home — missing it is the most expensive mistake on an EDT.
5. 05

   Passport & entry requirements

   • Check your passport is valid for the destination, and any visa, entry or registration rules (such as the EU’s EES/ETIAS) for your nationality.
   • Check official government sources — rules change.
6. 06

   Bags

   • Travel hand-luggage only. Check your airline’s size, weight and liquid rules — they differ between airlines and fares.
7. 07

   Strikes & disruption

   • Check for planned strikes by airlines, airports, air-traffic control or public transport at both ends on your date.
8. 08

   Weather, daylight & severe conditions

   • Check sunset times — in winter it can be dark by 16:00 in northern Europe. Dress for the weather and a long day on your feet.
   • Check for severe weather warnings (storms, snow, fog, high winds, heat waves) at both airports. These can delay or cancel flights in either direction.
9. 09

   Money & phone

   • Bring a card that works abroad without high fees, and check whether cash is needed anywhere you plan to go.
   • Check roaming costs, and keep your phone charged — boarding passes are often on it. A small power bank helps.
10. 10

    Travel insurance

    • Check what happens if your flight out or your flight home is cancelled or delayed, and what you’re entitled to from the airline.
    • Make sure your travel insurance covers cancellations, delays, missed flights, medical care and any other incidents on a same-day trip.
11. 11

    A backup plan

    • Know the last flight home that day, and the last train or bus to the airport.
    • Check the price of a backup hotel near the airport or in the city, in case your flight home is cancelled and you have to spend a night.
12. 12

    Final check before you pay

    • Confirm the final price, flight times, fare conditions and baggage rules on the airline’s own website before booking. Prices and schedules can change at any time.

This checklist is general information, not legal, immigration or insurance advice. See our Terms & Conditions.